• Carbon letters
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2015

In this study, in order to improve the thermal and electrical properties of epoxy/graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), surface modifications of GNPs are conducted using silane coupling agents. Three silane coupling agents, i.e. 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane (ETMOS), 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane (GPTS), and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS), were used. Among theses, GPTMS exhibits the best modification performance for fabricating GNP-incorporated epoxy composites. The effect of the silanization is evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The electrical and thermal conductivities are characterized. The epoxy/silanized GNPs exhibits higher thermal and electrical properties than the epoxy/raw GNPs due to the improved dispersion state of the GNPs in the epoxy matrix. The TEM microphotographs and Turbiscan data demonstrate that the silane molecules grafted onto the GNP surface improve the GNP dispersion in the epoxy.

• Carbon letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.177-179
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• 2011

The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a reinforcing material in a polymer matrix has increased in various industries. In this study, the flexural behavior of CNT-modified epoxy/basalt (CNT/epoxy/basalt) composites is investigated. The effects of CNT modification with silane on the flexural properties of CNT/epoxy/basalt composites were also examined. Flexural tests were performed using epoxy/basalt, oxidized CNT/epoxy/basalt, and silanized CNT/epoxy/basalt multi-scale composites. After the flexural tests, the fracture surfaces of the specimens were examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the fracture mechanisms of the CNT/epoxy/basalt multi-scale composites with respect to the CNT modification process. The flexural properties of the epoxy/basalt composites were improved by the addition of CNTs. The flexural modulus and strength of the silane-treated CNT/epoxy/basalt multi-scale composites increased by approximately 54% and 34%, respectively, compared to those of epoxy/basalt composites. A SEM examination of the fracture surfaces revealed that the improvement in the flexural properties of the silane-treated CNT/epoxy/basalt multi-scale composites could be attributed to the improved dispersion of the CNTs in the epoxy.

• Carbon letters
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• v.25
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• pp.43-49
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• 2018

This study suggests the novel thermoplastic toughening agent, which can be applied in the monomer forms without increasing the viscosity of the epoxy resin and polymerized during the resin curing. The diazide (p-BAB) and dialkyne (SPB) compounds are synthesized and mixed with the epoxy resin and the carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites are prepared using vacuum infusion process (VIP). Then, flexural and drop weight tests are performed to evaluate the improvement in the toughness of the prepared composites to investigate the potential of the novel toughening agent. When 10 phr of p-BAB and SPB is added, the flexural properties are improved, maintaining the modulus as well as the toughness is improved. Even with a small amount of polytriazolesulfone polymerized, due to the filtering effect of the solid SPB by the layered carbon fabrics during the VIP, the toughening and strengthening effect were observed from the novel toughening agent, which could be added in monomer forms, p-BAB and SPB. This suggests that the novel toughening agent has a potential to be used for the composites prepared from viscosity sensitive process, such as resin transfer molding and VIP.

• Carbon letters
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.249-251
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• 2011

Carbon/epoxy woven composites are prominent wear-resistant materials due to the strength, stiffness, and thermal conductivity of carbon fabric. In this study, the effect of oilabsorption on the wear behaviors of carbon/epoxy woven composites was investigated. Wear tests were performed on dry and fully oil-absorbed carbon/epoxy woven composites. The worn surfaces of the test specimens were examined via scanning electron microscopy to investigate the wear mechanisms of oil-absorbed carbon/epoxy woven composites. It was found that the oil absorption rate was 0.14% when the carbon/epoxy woven composites were fully saturated. In addition, the wear properties of the carbon/epoxy woven composites were found to be affected by oilabsorption. Specifically, the friction coefficients of dry and oil-absorbed carbon/epoxy woven composites were 0.25-0.30 and 0.55-0.6, respectively. The wear loss of the oilabsorbed carbon/epoxy woven composites was $3.52{\times}10^{-2}\;cm^3$, while that of the dry carbon/epoxy woven composites was $3.52{\times}10^{-2}\;cm^3$. SEM results revealed that the higher friction coefficient and wear loss of the oil-absorbed carbon/epoxy woven composites can be attributed to the existence of broken and randomly dispersed fibers due to the weak adhesion forces between the carbon fibers and the epoxy matrix.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.212-215
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• 2002

Interfacial evaluation and damage sensing of the carbon fiber/epoxy-amine terminated (AT)-polyetherimide (PEI) composites were performed using micromechanical test and electrical resistance measurement. As AT-PEI content increased, the fracture toughness of epoxy-AT-PEI matrix increased, and thus their interfacial shear strength (IFSS) was improved due to the improved toughness. After curing process, the changes in electrical resistance (ΔR) with increasing AT-PEI contents increased gradually because of the changes in thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) and thermal shrinkage of matrix. Matrix fracture toughness was correlated to the IFSS, residual stress and electrical resistance. The results obtained from the electrical resistance measurement during curing process, reversible stress/strain, and durability test were consistent with modified matrix toughness properties.

• Composites Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.39-44
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• 2002

Interfacial properties and microfailure modes or electrodeposition(ED) treated carbon fiber reinforced polyetherimide(PEI) toughened epoxy composites were investigated using microdroplet test. ED was performed to improve the interfacial shear strength(IFSS). As PEI content increased, IFSS increased due to enhanced toughness and plastic deformation of PEI. In the untreated cafe, IFSS Increased with adding PEI content, and IFSS of pure PEI matrix showed the highest. On the other hand, thor ED-treated case IFSS increased with PEI content with rather low improvement rate. In the untreated case, neat epoxy resin appeared brittle microfailure mode, whereas pure PEI matrix exhibited more likely ductile microfailure mode. In the ED-treated case, neat epoxy exhibited more ductile fracture compared to the untreated case. Interfacial properties of epoxy-PEI composite can be affected efficiently by both the control of matrix toughness and ED treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.421-428
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• 1998

The effect of silane coupling agents on the water stability of HAC/PVA based MDF cement composites which were modified with urethane and epoxy resin were studied as a function of the functional groups and addition amount of silane coupling agent. According to the composition of polymer matrix the silanes with different functional groups showed the different effectiveness. In case of the only PVA matrix the silane with vinyl functional group was more effective than other silanes. When the epoxy resin was added the silane of epoxy-methodxy group enhanced the flexural strength of dry and wet state more than other. In case of urethane-added MDF cement the silane of diamine group was effective and enhanced the water sta-bility fo MDF cement composite more and more as the addition amount of silane increased, Especially in case of warm-presed composite the effect of silane was enhanced By addition of 2wt% of silane with 야-amine group the flexural strength of urethane-added composites were enhanced by 20% more in dry state 40-70% in wet state in accord with the porosity analysis. The flexural strength of the poxy resin-added MDF cement composite was increased by addition of 1wt% and 2wt% silane of epoxy-methoxy group However the addition of 4wt% of silane decreased the flexural strength of dry and wet state by formation of closed pore in the polymer matrix.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.545-553
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• 2018

Mode II delamination propagation is an important damage mode in laminated composites and this paper aims to investigate the behavior of this damage in laminated composite materials using acoustic emission (AE) technique. Three different lay-ups of glass/epoxy composites were subjected to mode II delamination propagation and generated AE signals were recorded. In order to investigate the propagation of delamination behavior of these specimens, AE signals were analyzed using Wavelet Packet Transforms (WPT) and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). In addition, conventional AE analyses were used to enhance understanding of the propagation of delamination damage. The results indicate that different fracture mechanisms were the main cause of the AE signals. The dominant mechanisms in all the specimens were matrix cracking, fiber/matrix debonding and fiber breakage, with varying percentage of the damage mechanisms for each lay-up. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations were in accordance to the AE results.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2015

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was modified with various length of linear alkyl chains and passivated to form dielectric filler. The modified SWNTs embedded into epoxy matrix to fabricate a flexible composite with high dielectric constant. The dielectric behavior of the composite was significantly changed with various alkyl chain length(n) of pyrene. The dielectric constant of the epoxy/SWNTs composite significantly increased with respect to increase in length of alkyl chain at the frequency range from 10 to 105Hz (n=12and18).We also found that the passivated epoxy/SWNTs composite with high dielectric constant presented low dielectric loss. The resulted dielectric performances corresponded to de-bundling of nanotubes and their distribution behavior in the matrix in terms of tail length of alkyl pyrene in the passivation layer.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.299-306
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• 2019

The natural fibre composites are termed as bio-composites. They have shown a promising replacement to the current carbon/glass fibre reinforced composites as environmental friendly materials in specific applications. Natural fibre reinforced composites are potential materials for various engineering applications in automobile, railways, building and Aerospace industry. The natural fibre selected to fabricate the composite material is plant-based fibre e.g., sisal fibre. Sisal fibre is a suitable reinforcement for use in composites on account of its low density, high specific strength, and high hardness. Epoxy is a thermosetting polymer which is used as a resin in natural fibre reinforced composites. Hand lay-up technique was used to fabricate the composites by reinforcing sisal fibres into the epoxy matrix. Composites were prepared with the unidirectional alignment of sisal fibres. Test specimens with different fibre orientations were prepared. The fabricated composites were tested for mechanical properties. Impact test, tensile test, flexural test, hardness test, compression test, and thermal test of composites had been conducted to assess its suitability in industrial applications. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) test revealed the microstructural information of the fractured surface of composites.